Michigan returns to top conference

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan ended its short losing skid and is back atop the Big Ten.

Bernard Robinson scored a season-high 21 as the Wolverines beatIowa 70-62 Saturday, moving into a first-place tie with Purdue in the conference. The Wolverines (14-8) ended a two-game losing streak with their 14th win in 16 games.

"It shows how far this program has come for us to be able to make a push for the Big Ten championship," said Daniel Horton, who had 16 points, six assists and three steals. "But we can't be content with just making a push."

The Wolverines sealed it with an 18-4 run midway through the second half for a 58-50 lead with 6:23 left. Sean Sonderleiter led the Hawkeyes (12-7) with 16 points.

Rudy Tomjanovich, the Houston Rockets coach and former Michigan star, had his jersey retired during a halftime ceremony. Tomjanovich, who averaged 30.1 points and 15.7 rebounds in 1969-70, received a standing ovation and was showered with chants of "Ru-dy! Ru-dy!" when a No. 45 banner was unfurled.

"You really know how to make a guy feel good," Tomjanovich told the crowd. "Having your number retired is the greatest tribute you can give to a player. You have made me a proud old Wolverine."

MICH. ST. 67, INDIANA 62 (OT): Paul Davis scored six of his game-high 21 in overtime as the Spartans (13-8) won their first conference road game of the season. The loss was the fifth straight for the Hoosiers (14-8), their longest streak since Bob Knight's first season as coach in 1971-72.

Indiana was led by Jeff Newton, who had 24 points and became the 38th in school history to score 1,000 career points. Michigan State was missing forward Alan Anderson, the team's second-leading scorer. He dislocated a finger and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks.

Davis scored the first two baskets in overtime to break a 56-all tie, and the Hoosiers never recovered. Indiana got within 64-62 with 50.5 seconds left, then forced a turnover. But Newton missed a 15-footer. IU's Bracey Wright sent it to overtime tied at 56 on a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left.

WISCONSIN 74, N'WESTERN 59: Kirk Penney had 23 points as the visiting Badgers (16-5) rebounded from their worst loss of the season. Wisconsin, which lost 78-60 to Purdue, went on a 14-6 run behind eight points from Penney at the start of the second half to open a 14-point lead. Jitim Young led the Wildcats (9-11) with 25 points.

Big East

UCLA 71, GEORGETOWN 70: Cedric Bozeman made two free throws with 4.9 seconds left, ending the visiting Bruins' nine-game losing streak. UCLA (5-14) had not won since beating Washington State on Jan. 4. Gerald Riley led Georgetown (10-9) with 20 points, but fouled out with 44.9 seconds left.

VA. TECH 71, ST. JOHN'S 54: Bryant Matthews scored 22 in the Hokies' second straight conference upset. Carlos Dixon scored 14 for Virginia Tech (10-11), which topped No. 18 UConn 95-74 Wednesday. Marcus Hatten had 27 points for the host Red Storm (11-8), which pulled within three in the second half before a 13-3 Hokies run.

RUTGERS 75, BC 72: Herve Lamizana had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the host Scarlet Knights (10-10). Andrew Bryant had a chance to tie for the Eagles (11-9), but the ball slipped through his hands and out of bounds with 1.8 seconds left.

Big 12

COLORADO 84, IOWA ST. 69: Michel Morandais scored 18, and Stephane Pelle and David Harrison each had 17 for the host Buffaloes (14-7). Jackson Vroman had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Iowa State (12-7), which dropped its 13th straight conference road game. The Buffaloes took a 16-0 lead in the first 6:21 as Iowa State missed its first 12.

C-USA

MEMPHIS 84, TCU 69: John Grice had 20 points, including five 3s, for the visiting Tigers (14-5). Grice's 3 four minutes into the second half gave Memphis its largest lead at 58-38, but TCU (7-14) went on an 11-2 run to cut it to 60-49. Bingo Merriex and Junior Blount each scored 16 to lead TCU.

TULANE 71, UAB 66: Marcus Kinzer scored 10 in the final three minutes and finished with a career-high 17 points to lead visiting Tulane (11-10). Morris Finley led the Blazers (12-7) with 18 points.

ECU 60, SO. MISS 57: Derrick Wiley scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half for the host Pirates (12-9). East Carolina used a 15-0 run midway through the second half to take control and end a three-game losing streak. Mario Myles scored 15 to lead Southern Mississippi (10-10).

Pac-10

ARIZONA ST. 79, WASH. 77 (OT): Shawn Redhage scored eight of his career-high 29 in overtime for the visiting Sun Devils (15-7). The Huskies had the ball the final 10 seconds, but failed to take a shot. Redhage scored the first five of overtime as Arizona State took a 72-67 lead, but Will Conroy hit two 3s in Washington's 8-0 run. With Washington (8-12) leading 77-76, Curtis Millage's 15-footer with 24 seconds left sealed it. Doug Wrenn sent it to overtime for Washington with 7.9 seconds left.

SEC

AUBURN 56, LSU 54: Reserve Nathan Watson hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left to lift the host Tigers (17-5). Auburn led all the way until Jaime Lloreda's basket with 3:07 left gave LSU (13-8) a 54-53 lead. Watson had missed his first four shots, including three 3-pointers. Ronald Dupree led LSU with 17 points and seven rebounds, but failed to defend Watson's 3.

SOUTH CAROLINA 84, VANDY 72: Chuck Eidson scored 18 for the visiting Gamecocks (8-11), who snapped a seven-game losing streak. Brian Thornton led Vanderbilt (10-10) with 22 points. South Carolina entered last in the conference in scoring offense, but scored a season-high 46 in the first half.

FAMU 97, DELAWARE ST. 77: Terrence Woods scored 34, including eight 3-pointers, to lead the host Rattlers (10-9). Andre Matthews scored 18 for the Hornets (9-10), who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

UCF 82, GARDNER-WEBB 59: Ray Abellard scored 17 for host Central Florida (17-7), which won its third straight and started the game on a 35-9 run.

STETSON 85, BELMONT 80: Josef McNeal and E.J. Gordon each scored 15 to lead the visiting Hatters (5-15). Belmont (13-10) had a 15-3 run with 57 seconds left to pull within 79-78. Stetson made four free throws to seal it.